Index of Schools AnalysisAbout the Site 2012 20112010 20092008 2007all years
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Most Recently Selected profile:

The data below comes from testmagic forums and shows accepted, waitlisted, and rejected applicants for 2010 for economics graduate school. Clicking on points in the graph above will make the most recent profile appear in the space below the graph.


Acceptances:

representative_agent 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics, ranked 12/189 in my year
Type of Grad: MSc (econ) in Europe
GRE: Q 790, V 580, AW 4.0
Math Courses: Everything my undergrad school had to offer, but no real analysis (didn't have much choice).
Econ Courses (Graduate level): Micro (1+2), Macro (1+2), Econometrics, Incentives, Auction Theory, Several courses in public econ, Growth, ...
Other Courses: Several undergrad statistics courses
Letters of Recommendation: 1 well-known, 3 known in their field, 1 thesis advisor (relatively unknown)
Research Experience: undergrad thesis
Teaching Experience: undergrad macro
Research Interests: game theory, information econ, applied micro
SOP: hard to judge - does anybody read it?
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Chicago ($$), NWU ($$), NYU($$), UPENN($$), UCL($$)
Waitlists: Minnesota
Rejections: Yale, Stanford, MIT, Princeton
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Chicago ($$), NWU ($$), NYU($$), UPENN($$), UCL($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Yale, Stanford, MIT, Princeton
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Minnesota

canecon 2008:
School: UBC
Major: Econ (Hons)
GPA: 3.5 (3.98 upper-econ, 3.98 math (excluding failed calc 1))
GRE: 800q 480v 5.0 AWA (despite the awful verbal I am native English speaker / English background)
Courses:
Econ:Hon micro/macro I (A+'s) Game Theory (Hon) A, Hon Macro II A+, + intro metrics I/II (A+) + lots electives (mostly A+)
Math: Calc 1 (F first time then A), Calc 2, linear, multivariable, ODE's, probability(calc based), intro proof A+'s intro analysis A
Now Taking: Honours Thesis, Advanced Macro, Econometrics
Research: Thesis
letter of recommendation: 3 Assistant Profs, I say mediocre since I had no special relationship, just took their classes.
SOP: Pretty bad I think... that might just be me - but I didn't have any professors read it since I thought it was crappy (very bad reason I know - I expect I might have had spelling/grammar errors as well ). But I guess for Master's it doesn't matter that much.
Interests: Macro, Int trade/finance/development.
Schools:
Decided to apply only for Masters:
LSE, UCL, Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, UPF, UBC, Toronto, Queens, UWO, Stockholm.
My Concerns:
First year really sucked, second year was average. Only have 1.5 years of good grades.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE Msc (1 year, Res), UCL MSc, Warwick MSc, Oxford M.Phil (??), UPF MSc($$), Queen's MA ($$), Toronto Doc. Stream MA ($$), UBC MA ($$), UWO MA ($$),
Still Waiting: Cambridge M.Phil (B), Stockholm University MSc (Research)
Rejections: None (yet)
What would you have done differently?
-known that I was going to go for grad school (in econ) earlier
-started preparing to apply in the summer, or early sept, or early october. (didnt start applications earlier because very math-packed semester. No time in summer though b/c courses and GRE - basically crammed all the math I needed in last 8 mths I would have grades for).
-Looked into scholarship opportunities for study in UK (many seem to have deadlines around sept/oct. ) I started looking the next february/march.
-Basically I did what I could. Maybe should have applied to some PhD straight away, but still not sure what I want to do and I didn't really have time to put together good apps.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: LSE Msc (1 year, Res), UCL MSc, Warwick MSc, Oxford M.Phil (??), UPF MSc($$), Queen's MA ($$), Toronto Doc. Stream MA ($$), UBC MA ($$), UWO MA ($$), Still
Rejects:
    Rejections: None (yet)
Waitlists:
    Waiting: Cambridge M.Phil (B), Stockholm University MSc (Research)

EMEQU 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Good Latin American university
Undergrad GPA: 15.4/20
Type of Grad: Good Latin American university
Ggrad GPA: 8/10
GRE: 800Q 500V 4.0AWA
TOEFL: 260/300
Math Courses (undergrad and grad): Calculus, Probability, Statistics, Real Analysis, Mathematical Economics (optimization and optimal control)
Econ Courses(grad): Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Aplied Econometrics.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 strong letter of recommendation from one very well-known senior professor, 2 strong LORS from two assistant professors.
Research Experience: Master's thesis, few working papers.
Teaching Experience: TA (undergraduate), Lecturer (undergraduate)
Research Interests: Macroeconomics.
SOP: Explained why I wanted to pursue a PhD in economics.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: University College London (no $), Texas A&M ($$), UC Davis ($$), University of Virginia ($$), Arizona State University ($$$), UIUC ($$$, 1st year fellowship), Carnegie Mellon ($$$, 1st year fellowship).
Rejections: UC San Diego, Brown University, UC Santa Cruz, JHU.
Pending: Queen's University.
What would you have done differently?
I think LORs matter a lot, specially for international students (since one professor may recommend 4 or 5 students at the same time to the same university). I wish I applied to fewer safety schools.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: University College London (no $), Texas A&M ($$), UC Davis ($$), University of Virginia ($$), Arizona State University ($$$), UIUC ($$$, 1st year fellowship), Carnegie Mellon ($$$, 1st year fellowship).
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC San Diego, Brown University, UC Santa Cruz, JHU.
Waitlists:
    Pending: Queen's University.

desemejante 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics from Top 5 European
Undergrad GPA: Predicted 1st class honours
Math Courses: Courses covering: Single and Multivariate Calculus, Analysis, Statistical Theory, Econometrics
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Advanced Micro, Advanced Macro, Industrial Economics, Economic Theory (Game Theory, Information Economics, General Equilibrium, Decision Theory)
Other Courses: Finance, Accounting
Letters of Recommendation: 2, both from Tutors, should be solid!
Research Experience: none
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Micro Theory and IO
SOP: Good
Applying to: LSE MSc, UCL MSc, Oxford MPhil, potentially Bocconi & Cambridge
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: - (didn't apply for any) Notification date: 01/28/09 Notified through: LSE for you Comments: My top choice!
  • Institution: UCL (University College London) MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: - (didn't apply for any) Notification date: 12/16/08 Notified through: Regular Mail Comments: My first offer!
  • Institution: University of Oxford MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: postal Comments: conditional of first class honours
Rejects:
Waitlists:

Econ_ 2009:
Institution: Stockholm School of Economics
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: ~15k eur
Notification date: 2/25
Institution: Tilburg University
Program: MPhil 2nd year
Decision: Accepted
Funding: not yet decided
Notification date: 2/25 email
Accepts:
  • Institution: Stockholm School of Economics Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ~15k eur Notification date: 2/25
  • Institution: Tilburg University MPhil 2nd year Decision: Accepted Funding: not yet decided Notification date: 2/25 email
  • Institution: University College London MPhil/PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: Notified through: Postal mail
Rejects:
  • Institution: UPF MPhil/PhD Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: April 27 Notified through: e mail
Waitlists:
  • Institution: EUI Florence MPhil/PhD Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: April 28 Notified through: e mail

zurich_econ 2010:
PROFILE:
Degrees Licentiate (=MA+BA) in economics, summa cum laude, GPA 5.8/6; B.Sc. math, GPA 5.7/6 both from large Swiss university
GRE: First go: 770Q 510V 5.5 AWA, Second go: 800Q 610V 4.5AWA
TOEFL 119
Math Courses: Analysis I-III (equivalent to real analysis, plus measure theory, integration on manifolds etc.) linear algebra I-II, abstract algebra, probability theory, measure theoretic probability theory, differential geometry (fall), topology (fall), functional analysis (fall)
Econ Courses: Micro I-IV (III and IV used Jehle/Reny and MWG), Macro I-IV (III used Obstfeld/Rogoff, IV used Romer), Growth and distribution theory, public economics, money and credit, monetary economics, behavioral economics, behavioral macroeconomics, behavioral finance (used Shleifer), experimental economics, statistics, econometrics (used Wooldridge), analysis of microdata, mathematical statistics and time series analysis, environmental economics, microeconomic theory of the firm, topics in international finance, finance and the macroeconomy, business economics.
Other Courses: Motivational psychology, psychology of perception, social psychology I-II, social neuroscience
Letters of Recommendation: 1 famous econ, 1 well known econ, 1 less well known econ, one math
Research Experience: RAing for 2 years, two theses (developped a game theoretic model in each of them)
Teaching Experience: Teaching exercise classes in undergrad micro, undergrad macro, public economics
Research Interests: Micro, behavioral, game theory, experimental, public econ
Other Fulbright
Concerns Adcoms not knowing how to interpret Swiss grades, relatively unknown university (though we got a handful of visiting profs from the top 5 every year here), the IIE handling some of my applications (but I'll be happy if they assessed my chances correctly!), ...and of course the insane competition
Applying to Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Chicago, NYU, NWU, Caltech, Cornell, CMU SDS, LSE, Oxford, UCL, Zurich (so much for the hypothesis that we international applicants choose our safeties at home)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale, Stanford, NYU, Berkeley, Chicago, Caltech, Northwestern, Oxford (PhD, PRS), UCL (PhD), all with good or great funding
Waitlists: None (great!)
Rejections: Cornell, Tilburg, Harvard
Pending: LSE, Carnegie Mellon SDS
What would you have done differently? Not much, really. Maybe I should have applied to Princeton, but I certainly can't complain! I think two things boosted my application: 1. The fact that I showed commitment by getting a BS in maths after finishing my MA in econ to do econ theory, and 2. the fact that I did independent research for my MA-thesis and spent sufficient time and energy on it to impress my advisor
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Yale, Stanford, NYU, Berkeley, Chicago, Caltech, Northwestern, Oxford (PhD, PRS), UCL (PhD), all with good or great funding
  • Institution: Yale PHD Econ Decision: Accepted Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments: Delighted
  • Institution: Oxford DPhil (PRS) Decision: Accepted Funding: $ for sure, chance for $$$ Notification date: Feb. 19 Notified Through: Personal email from prospective advisor
  • Institution: Caltech social sciences PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $$ Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: Fulbright (took them a week to forward the mail...)
  • Institution: Northwestern econ Decision: Accepted Funding: $$ Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail Comments: No first year funding - probably because I have Fulbright funding for the first year
  • Institution: Oxford econ (PRS) Decision: Accepted Funding: $, chance for $$$ Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: E-mail from prospective advisor
  • Institution: UCL Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Yes, don't know how much Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Personal email from prospective advisor
  • Institution: UCL Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Yes, don't know how much Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Personal email from prospective advisor
  • Institution: NYU Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes (no details yet) Notified through: E-mail Date: 03/08 Comment: Great!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/05/10 Notified through: via Fulbright, with a 7 days delay! Comment: Thrilled!
  • Institution: U Chicago Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 23'000 Notification date: 3/04/10 Notified through: via Fulbright, with a 7 days delay! Comment: Great, but probably won't go there.
  • Institution: Stanford University Economics Decision:Accepted Funding: 32'000+Health Notification date: 15/03/2010 Notified through: Email, forwarded by Fulbright Comments: I can't believe it!!!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Cornell, Tilburg, Harvard
  • Institution: Cornell econ Decision: rejected Notification date: 02/08/2010
  • Institution: Cornell econ Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Comments: Was my first decision - got me quite depressed, without any reason, as I learned a few days later.
  • Institution: Tilburg econ Decision: Rejeted Notification date: 2/23 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I applied on the last day of their deadline, because I panicked a bit - seems like they have smelled that I had added them as a safety!
  • Institution: Tilburg econ Decision: Rejeted Notification date: 2/23 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I applied on the last day of their deadline, because I panicked a bit - seems like they have smelled that I had added them as a safety!
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: via Fulbright
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None (great!)

DerPumuckl 2010:
Undergrad: Top 3 in Germany, BA in Economics
Undergrad GPA: 1.45/5.00 (the nearer to 1, the better)
Exchange: UW, Seattle
Exchange GPA: 3.86/4.00
GRE: 800Q/560V/4.5AWA
Math Courses: 2 Math courses for Economists, 2 Statistics Classes, Game Theory
Econ Courses: A lot including Micro I & II, Macro I & II as well as Econometrics I & II.
Grad courses: None - even though advanced German courses are well above Econ 400 level.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 from Profs with PhDs from Columbia, Chicago and Harvard. All should be strong.
Research Experience: RA for one Semester (for one of my letter of recommendation writers).
Teaching Experience: TA for one Semester.
Research Interests: International Macroeconomics, Finance.
Statement of Purpose: Good.
Other: Applying for Masters.
Concerns: Maybe not good enough grades.
RESULTS (Masters only):
Acceptances: Cambridge, UCL, Tinbergen ($$$) and Warwick
Still waiting for response: SSE, UBC
Rejections: LSE, Oxford
What would you have done differently? I'm attending Cambridge for my MPhil - very happy!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Cambridge, UCL, Tinbergen ($$$) and Warwick Still
  • Institution: UWarwick MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None mentioned Notification date: January 6th 2010 Notified through: Phone Call Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: Safety, hoping for better admits.
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: Funded ($$).
  • Institution: The University of Warwick MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 01/04/2010 Notified through: Phone then email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Unfunded.
Rejects:
    Rejections: LSE, Oxford
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Rejected. Notification date: 22/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Pissed off.
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Rejected. Notification date: 22/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Pissed off.
Waitlists:
    waiting for response: SSE, UBC

hecka88 2010:
PROFILE:
(at the time of application)
Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Mathematics and Finance, Minor in Economics from a large public school in Midwest, overall top 80 by USNEWS
Undergrad GPA: overall 3.794/4, Econ 4.0, Math 4.0
GRE: 800Q 360V 3.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus 1-4, Liner Algebra, Differential Equations 1-2, Probability Theory 1-2, PDE 1, Numerical Analysis 1, Real Analysis 1, Honor Real Analysis 1 (in progress), and Intro to Statistical Theory, all A/A+
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Econometrics 1
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Micro, Intro to Macro, Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Development Economics, all A/A+
Other Courses: intro to programming, java, some finance and accounting courses, and some physics and astrophysics courses as GE.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 finance assistant professor (WUSTL) and 2 math full professor (NYU and MIT)
Research Experience: senior honor thesis on executive compensation
Teaching Experience: TA for one semester for an honor business technology class
Research Interests: Development Economics, Macroeconomics, and Financial Economics
RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE Msc Economics (1 year), UCL Msc Economics, Warwick Msc Economics (2 years), UWO direct entry PhD (18000 plus tuition)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: (all PhD) Northwestern, Brown, John Hopkins, Cornell
Pending: Toronto MA (Don’t care anymore)
What would you have done differently?
I have decided to attend LSE and apply again next year. Overall, I think I should apply to more schools and retake the GRE for higher verbal score. And I should have taken more Econ classes and obtain at least one recommendation from Econ professor. Anyway I’m quite satisfied with my LSE offer.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: LSE Msc Economics (1 year), UCL Msc Economics, Warwick Msc Economics (2 years), UWO direct entry PhD (18000 plus tuition)
Rejects:
    Rejections: (all PhD) Northwestern, Brown, John Hopkins, Cornell
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

lian 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. economics (unknown west-european university with a lot of unnecessary business courses)
Undergrad GPA: 1.3 on a scale from 1.0(best possible) to 5.0, (best of my class out of ca. 350)
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: none
GRE: Q700, V340 (TOEFL 109), AWA pending - awful, always scored 800Q before, taking it again in october
Math Courses: math for econs (A+), stats I (A), stats II and econometrics (in progress), real analysis I (in progress), linear algebra and analytical geometry I (in progress), 2 further high math courses in spring..
Econ Courses (grad-level): none, not possible at my university
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): micro theory I (A+), micro theory II (B+), macro I (A+), macro II (A-), Public Econ (A-), Institutional Economics and Game Theory(A+), International Economics (A+), Industrial Organization (A+), development econ (A+)
Other Courses: a lot of compulsory boring business classes, mostly A's, one B, one B-..
Letters of Recommendation: two micro profs, (i work as a RA for one, the other is an american prof), one macro prof. every letter should be very strong, but they aren't known outside europe.
Research Experience: RA for approximately 1.5 years. one research paper in progress. one discussion paper co-authored.
Teaching Experience: none but private tutoring since 1st school grade . i've tried, not allowed in my university as an undergrad to teach official courses.
Research Interests: microeconomics. IO, behavioral/institutional economics and game theory.
SOP: in progress, nothing special.
Concerns: terrible first GRE scores; totally insufficient math background; unknown recommendators and unknown undergrad university. Before studying economics a was a terrible student: A-Levels were awful - 2.7, and i quit my first university study (physics major, math minor)
Applying to: Master: LSE, Cambridge, UCL, UEA, Tinbergen, Tilburg, Toulouse, Paris, Barcelona, Toronto, British Columbia. PhD: Cornell, Michigan, Minnesota, Madison, ... not yet decided, depending on second GRE and self-confidence. i am not even sure if to apply now for a phd or after making a master degree.. any advice?
Accepts:
  • Institution: Southern Methodist University Ph.D. Decision: Admit FUnding: Additionally to my fellowship - a stipend that covers all uncovered expenses; full funding for last 2 years, Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments: WOW my first offer - soooo happy, sure I'll accept. Just 10 days to decide. For the future applicant: "short list" means: accepted if you show interest!
  • Institution: UCL M.Sc. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/30/2011 Notified through: e-mail after i inquiered Posted on GradCafe: yes Comments: damn, i was so sure I'll attend SMU, now i have to make pro-cons-lists for another week
Rejects:
  • Institution: Texas Austin Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/08/11 Notified through: website which says that i won't get an e-mail, website contains the official rejection.. Posted on GF: yes Comments: not surprised, missed like every single deadline they have, and apparently, they never received my third letter of recommendation.. still sad
  • Institution: JHU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -.- Notification date: March 14 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments: that was my dream school..
  • Institution: Cornell Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: .. Notification date: 03/21/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: annoyed, just annoyed.. soooo disappointed, although it was totally expected..
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics 1 year Research Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Comments: and the next one... I'm getting used to it..
  • Institution: UVa Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: April 8 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Y Comments: Finally, took them long enough..
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Rice University Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: they have ressources for 7 funded admissions Notification date: 2/13 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Honestly, with my international profile and nearly no official math at all - i didn't even expect to be waitlisted.. They received 200 applications with request for fin.aid.

Neshamah 2011:
Institution: Warwick
Program: MSc Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Will know more in March/April
Notification date: 12 January 2011
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Good to get some feedback. Quite expensive course, will only attend with funding...
Accepts:
  • Institution: Warwick MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Will know more in March/April Notification date: 12 January 2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Good to get some feedback. Quite expensive course, will only attend with funding...
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE MSc in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 01/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Very happy! Lack of funding is a problem.
  • Institution: University College London MSc Economic Policy Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 1/27/2011 Notified through: Post Posted on GF: No Comments: Applied for MSc Economics and got this offer instead. Probably insufficient math for economics program.
  • Institution: Simon Fraser University MA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 04/21/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: First funded offer... so excited!! Going to SFU!
Rejects:
  • Institution: University of Oxford MPhil Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: Disappointing... but not unexpected. Waiting to hear from MSc Economics for Development.
  • Institution: University of Oxford MSc Economics for Development Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/17/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Guess that means I'm not going to Oxford...
  • Institution: Queens MA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: April 14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

Irrational 2011:
Institution: Barcelona GSE
Program: MSc in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Partial tuition waiver (9,000 €)
Notification date: 01/24/2011
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GC: no
Comments: Decision until 23/02/2011, which is very early. Still, it's my first admit, so I am kind of happy :-)
Accepts:
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE MSc in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Partial tuition waiver (9,000 €) Notification date: 01/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Decision until 23/02/2011, which is very early. Still, it's my first admit, so I am kind of happy :-)
  • Institution: University of Warwick MSc in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 01/27/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Another safety accept, which is nice. However I would probably prefer UPF as Warwick does not have any experience with placements into US PhD programs.
  • Institution: University of Oxford Master of Philosophy in Economics (MPhil) Decision: Accepted Funding: Not yet specified Notification date: 03/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Does Oxford offer an exchange semester/year? Edit: Called them, they don't.
  • Institution: Duke University AM Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No information yet Notification date: 03/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Sweet. But it felt strange, when they sent me my password in plain text.
  • Institution: University of British Columbia MA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA (10,914$) and possibly reduced tuition fees Notification date: 03/17/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: -
  • Institution: Boston University Master of Arts in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nope Notification date: 03/23/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: University of Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research Decision: Accepted Funding: no Notification date: 03/31/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: It is conditional on finishing my Bachelors with minimum 1.5/5.0. This was the same for Oxford, might be interesting for future applications from my country who consider applying to Oxbridge.
  • Institution: London School of Economics and Political Science MSc Economics and Philosophy Decision: Accepted Funding: no, will not apply for funding. Notification date: 04/19/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: It is conditional on finishing my Bachelors with minimum 2.2/5.0. This was my second preference after the EME. They asked me via e-mail to shortly state the reasons for my interest into the program, since my SOP did not mention any philosophy.
  • Institution: University College London MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: no Notification date: 04/26/2011 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC: no Comments: It is conditional on finishing my Bachelors with minimum 1.5/5.0.
Rejects:
  • Institution: London School of Economics Master of Econometrics and Mathematical Economics (2-year) Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 03/07/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Queen's University Master of Arts Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 04/13/2011 Notified through: e-mail after I inquired about my application status Posted on GC: no Comments: I guess they have only very few places for international students. Maybe, I should've said in the application, that I do not require funding.
  • Institution: University of Toronto MA Economics (Doctoral stream) Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 05/05/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
Waitlists:

gir07 2011:
Institution: UCL
Program: Masters Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Pending
Notification date: 2/04/2011
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: ???
Comments: applied to masters programs only. LSE - rejected. Waiting on NYU, Tufts, BU, and Duke.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UCL Masters Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Pending Notification date: 2/04/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: ??? Comments: applied to masters programs only. LSE - rejected. Waiting on NYU, Tufts, BU, and Duke.
Rejects:
Waitlists:

intrepidtravels 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BSc Top 5 UK, major in Statistics, minor in Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.75
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q780, V530, AW5.5
Math Courses: Linear Algebra (A-), Real Analysis (A+), Calculus (B)
Stats Courses: Introduction to Statistics (A), Further Statistics (A), Practical Statistics (A), Probability and Inference (B), Linear Models (B), Applied Probability (B+), Statistical Inference (B), Stochastic Systems (B), Decision and Risk (A+), Optimisation Algorithms (A+)
Econ Courses: Microeconomics (A), Macroeconomics (A), Econometrics (A), Game Theory (A), Environmental Economics (B)
Other Courses: Finance (B)
Letters of Recommendation: Two unknown professors
Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development
SOP: Linking research interests, relevant work experience, and undergraduate thesis
Other: Lots of relevant international work experience (including 4 internships and one full-time job for a year)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale MA International and Development Economics (IDE), UCL MSc Economics
Waitlists: Cambridge MPhil Economics
Rejections: UC Berkeley PhD Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oxford MPhil Economics
Pending: Oxford MSc Economics for Development
Attending: Yale MA International and Development Economics (IDE)
What would you have done differently?
Not too much, got into my dream master's program so am really very excited. UK schools rarely (if ever?) give TA/RA positions to undergraduates so I am not too worried about lacking experience there.
If I had to mention something, I would say improve my grades. A's across the board, in difficult subjects, is absolutely essential.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Yale MA International and Development Economics (IDE), UCL MSc Economics
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC Berkeley PhD Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oxford MPhil Economics
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Cambridge MPhil Economics

wantchi 2012:
Type of Undergrad: Top 5, Top 5 Econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.58
Type of Grad: A few courses at a top 5 program while working
Grad GPA: 3.33
GRE: 800Q, 700V, 4.0W
Math Courses: Real Analysis (B+,A,A-), Abstract Algebra (A,B), Complex Analysis (B+)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Econometrics (B,B) Microeconometrics (A), Game Theory (B-)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro (B,A-), Intermediate Macro (B,B+), Game Theory (A)
Other Courses: Stat Methods and Applications (A), Stat Theory and Methods (A-, A-), Mathematical Probability (A-), Applied Linear Statistical Methods (Grad Course, B+), Categorical Data (A), Probability Models (Grad Course, A)
Letters of Recommendation: Best from Professor in Top 20f IDEAS rankings, 2 very strong letters from well published economists at a regional Fed (each program received only one of these), 1 decent letter ("He got an A in my class which was a tough class") from a Very Famous economist ("just" top 50n IDEAS but a big name)
Research Experience: Lots. Undergrad Honors Thesis Paper, 2 Years as an undergrad, 2+ years at a regional Fed. Coauthored paper accepted at a good journal and several other coauthored projects in the works.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Inequality, Labor, Econometrics, Public
SOP: Individualized to each school. Mentioned a few professors whose research I'm interested in.
Concerns: Grades (obviously!).
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: NWU (Fellowship starting 2nd year), Wisconsin ($$), Harris School of Public Policy ($$), UCL MSc
Waitlists: Penn (Rejected), UCLA (Withdrew), Maryland (Withdrew), Washington (Withdrew)
Rejections: Chicago, Booth, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, NYU, Berkeley, Michigan, UCSD
Attending: Harris School of Public Policy
What would you have done differently?
I'm actually quite happy with how things worked out. The Harris School is a perfect fit for my research interests. I am really excited about every aspect of the program. It is more flexible than most econ programs, so they are letting me take whichever Econ department courses I want, but I can skip the one's I'm not interested in (i.e. Macro). Now, I just need to prove that you can get a job coming out of a policy school!
I probably would have done better for myself by taking 2nd year courses while working instead of the core econometrics courses. The grading would have been less brutal (decently high above median = B) and I would have been able to talk to the professors more and maybe gotten a better letter.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: NWU (Fellowship starting 2nd year), Wisconsin ($$), Harris School of Public Policy ($$), UCL MSc
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship first two years + guaranteed funding for 2 more Notification Date: 2/14/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes (Grad School Admissions Results, Discussions, Tips, Forums, Help • thegradcafe.com for people who don't know) Comment: First admit! Super excited! I was freaking out about Yale today and definitely wasn't expecting to hear from Wisconsin!
  • Institution: Harris School of Public Policy at Chicago Public Policy PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: around 19k Notification Date: 3/2/12 Notified Through: Unofficial e-mail from professor Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not an econ phd, but the faculty includes economists so I'll post it.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist Notification Date: 3/19/2012 Notified Through: e-mail Posted to GC: yes Comments: Soooo happy!
  • Institution: University College of London Economics MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: -17500 pounds Notification date: 04/13/2012 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: So much for letting me know 6 weeks after I submitted the application. Declined already.
Rejects:
    Rejected), UCLA (Withdrew), Maryland (Withdrew), Washington (Withdrew) Rejections: Chicago, Booth, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, NYU, Berkeley, Michigan, UCSD
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/22/2012 (11:51 am Eastern Time) Notified through: Email to check website. Posted on GC: Yes
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Booth Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/28 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: Yep Comments: Depressing.
  • Institution: UChicago Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 2/29/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Really, really sad about this one.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Website Posted on GC: Yep. Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 3/8/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UC San Diego Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 3/9/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notified: 3/13 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/16/12 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I wish they'd just send out a batch e-mail.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification Date: 3/21/2012 Notified Through: E-mail Posted to GC: Yes Comments: Wanted to be in Chicago anyway!
  • Institution: Penn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected off waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/10/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Penn (
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 2/27/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: A weekly kick in the face after my 1st year Notification Date: 3/2/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: I responded to the e-mail and asked to be removed from the waitlist.
  • Institution: University of Maryland Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 3/8/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:

AusEconGuy 2012:
Another data point (for Australians)
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad:Econ with first class honours from Go8 Australian Uni
Undergrad GPA: 3.8 for standard Bachelor, 4.0 in Honours (Converted to US scale)
Type of Grad: M Phil in Economics
Grad GPA: Coursework: 4.0 (US converted)
GRE: 159V, 168Q. 5.0 AW
Math Courses: Math for Economists (B, undergrad), econ students dont do pure math courses in my institution
Econ Courses (grad-level): Macro (A+), Micro (A), Metrics (A+)
Econ Courses (honours-level): Macro (A+), Metrics (A+), Advanced Math Econ (A+); Behavioural Game Theory (A+); Micro (B; whoops!)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I/II (B+; A+); Macro I/II (A+, A+); Metrics I/II/II (A+;A+;B); Econ Theory (B); Trade II/II (A+;A+); Econ History (A); Development (A); Money & Banking (A); Public Econ (A);
Other Courses: Finance I/II (A+;A) and some politics stuff
Letters of Recommendation:
- thesis supervisor for Hons and MPhil thesis, also taught me
- Prof I RA'd for over 2 years
- Assist Prof whom i tutored with for three years
- Head of School .... All should be positive
Research Experience: 6 years as RA for various profs (since 2nd year undergad); 3 conference presentations in 2011 for MPhil thesis; 2 thesis in experimental econ
Teaching Experience: TA for 4 years in range of courses from first year through third year
Research Interests: Behavioural Econ and Experiments, Political Econ, Information Econ
SOP: These are hard work! But its over
Concerns: Lack of obvious maths training (hons and Mphil courses are all at graduate level... LORS hopefully mention this), occasional B's in theory classes - These aren't horrible grades, I was still in top few students in these courses but no scaling
Applying to:
Phd: Northwestern, NYU (Econ and Stern), Cornell, Brown, UCSD, UC Berkeley, Princeton, Stanford ,Caltech, U Penn
Masters: Oxford; U College London; Autonoma, UC3M; Barcelona GSE; LSE; Toronto
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE EME Decision: Accepted conditional on a distinction average in my current MPhil Funding: Can apply for needs based funding Notification date: 21/01/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: NO Comments: nice indeed, though an expensive program
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE MSc Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: 6000 euro tuition waiver Notification date: 13/12/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: NO Comments: first admit, was happy at the time. dont like the short expiry date of the offer!
  • Institution: UC3M Master+PHD Decision: Accepted Funding: fees, first year health insurance and 1150 euro per month Notification date: 2/18 (17th on other side of the date line) Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: First admit that doesnt ask for tuition fees, nice indeed. exploding offer with 30 day deadline
  • Institution: Oxford MPhil Decision: acceptted Funding: TBA after college selection Notification date: 03/15/12 Notified through: E-mail Comments: pumped -- probably going to go here
  • Institution: UAB IDEA (autonoma barcelona) master in economic analysis + phd Decision: accepted Funding: tution waiver + 1000 euro per month Notification date: 03/21/12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: seems europe is the place to be for me this year
  • Institution: UCL (London) MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: seems like nothing Notification date: 4/3/12 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Interesting option
Rejects:
  • Institution: caltech social science phd Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 24/2/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: a very polite email, disappointed coz was a top choice for me
  • Institution: UC Berkeley phd in Econ Decision: rejected, twice to be sure I understood! Funding: n/a Notification date: 24/2/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: u penn phd Econ Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 24/2/2012 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: nope Comments: What a tough three hours!
  • Institution: northwestern Econ phd Decision: rejected Funding:n/a Notification date: 29/2/2012 Notified through: website after seeing decisions here Posted on GC: nope Comments: looks like I'm going to europe! The USA doesn't like my 'no name' institution.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: 'I can only assure you that all files were read at least twice and decisions were made with care' maybe they should have read it a third time!?.... so back to europe and my EME offer
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 3/8/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: na Notification date: March 8 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: NO Comment: Learned to expect this.... im going for zero north american admits, only cornell and UoT to hear back from
  • Institution: NYU Stern Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: --- Notified: 3/12 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: totally expected
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/15/12 Notified through: E-mail Comments: OK - so i've given up on the usa now... obviously my app is a lil random for them
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/21/12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 04/12/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: i'm out of the USA... hopefully Toronto can give me my one north american admit
Waitlists:

Wadders 2012:
Institution: LSE
Program: MSc EME (Research)
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 02.15.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Institution: UCL
Program: MSc Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 03.02.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Institution: Barcelona GSE
Program: MSc Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 01.16.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Institution: Cambridge
Program: MPhil Economics (Research)
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 02.15.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Institution: York (UK)
Program: MSc Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 01.26.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Institution: Manchester
Program: MSc Economics and Econometrics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 02.10.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Institution: Birkbeck, University of London
Program: MSc Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: (no decision)
Notification date: 02.25.2012
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: yes
Comments:
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE MSc EME (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 02.15.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: UCL MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 03.02.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 01.16.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Cambridge MPhil Economics (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 02.15.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: York (UK) MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 01.26.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Manchester MSc Economics and Econometrics Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 02.10.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Birkbeck, University of London MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: (no decision) Notification date: 02.25.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
Rejects:
Waitlists:


Rejections:

grahamcoxon 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Economics from top university in my country (who has always placed students in top US PhDs)
Undergrad GPA: Econ 28.73 / 30 (= 3.83 / 4.0 ); Overall 28.27 / 30 ( = 3.77 / 4.0 )
Type of Grad: 2 years long MSc in Economics from the same university
Grad GPA: Econ 28.73 / 30 (= 3.83 / 4.0 ); Overall 28.73 / 30 (= 3.83 / 4.0 )
GRE: 790 Q, 520 V, 4.0 A
Math Courses:
Undergraduate: Mathematics (29/30; one year long course), Statistics and Probability (30/30), Econometrics (30/30)
Graduate: Multivariate Analysis (30/30), Microeconometrics (28/30)
Econ Courses:
Undergraduate: Industrial History (30/30); Microeconomics (27/30); Industrial Organization (30/30); Macroeconomics (29/30); Organization Theory (28/30); International Trade (29/30); Innovation and Industrial Dynamics (27/30); Economic Policy (28/30); Technology and Economic Development (28/30); International Monetary Economics (30 cum laude / 30)
Graduate:International Trade (30/30); Industiral Organization (29/30); Theory of the Firm and Corporate Governance (27/30); Business History (30/30); Economics of Innovation (29/30); Labour Economics (27/30); Public Economics (29/30).
Other Courses: Undergraduate: German Language, International Financial Markets, Innovation Management, … ; Graduate: Knowledge and Innovation Management, Comparative Politics, Spanish Language, …
Letters of Recommendation: associate econ professor and MSc thesis advisor (PhD UCLA); full econ professor and teacher of graduate labour econ (PhD NYU); associate econ professor and RA supervisor (PhD Northwestern); at least two of them are very very strong letters from people who know me well; two letter-writers are well-known economists and all publish on top economics journals.
Research Experience: Honors MSc thesis; started to work on co-authored paper with my MSc thesis advisor (I don’t mention it in my application but he probably talked about it in his letter of recommendation); 3 months RA at Dept of Quantitative Methods of my undergrad/grad university; 1 year RA at CHILD (Center for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics);
Teaching Experience: 1 semester of Multivariate Analysis (graduate)
Research Interests: Political Economy, Behavioral Economics, Microeconomic Theory
SOP: nothing special, talked about reasons to pursue graduate studies in economics, research experience, research interests and future plans; used almost the same text for all universities; 2 pages research proposal outline added for European programs who asked for it (LSE, UCL, Oxford, UPF)
Other: international applicant; TOEFL: 107/120; no application for external funding; honor roll student in both years of MSc; submitted everywhere MSc thesis as writing sample; at least other 10 (very very strong) students applied this same year for almost the same US top programs from my university (in this sense, this was a strong year for applicants from my country/university)
RESULTS:
Admitted : Caltech (w/ funding), BU (w/out funding), LSE MSc (w/out funding), Oxford MPhil (w/out funding)
Waitlisted: Yale (not admitted in the end)
Rejected: UCSD, Columbia, Berkeley, MIT, Princeton, Northwestern, Stanford, NYU, Chicago, Harvard, LSE MRes/PhD, UPenn, Oxford Dphil, Stokcholm School of Economics, Stockholm U
Never got an answer : UPF, UCL
What would you have done differently? I would say the standard “taken more math classes” or try the alternative version “taken more graduate econ theory classes”, but since I decided to try the path of an Econ PhD less than 12 months ago (when I had already taken all classes needed to graduate) this wasn’t an option. Maybe I should have applied to a more diverse set of schools (no European at all; some Business School or some lower-ranked school with programs/faculty in line with my interests like Stanford GSB, Northwestern MEDS, Rochester or Carnegie Mellon), because I acted clearly as a risk-loving individual (I didn’t overestimated my profile, though…I know my chances at top15 schools were thin, but just wanted to come all the way to the U.S. only if it was really worth). Anyway, in this case, it worked.
Accepts:
    Admitted : Caltech (w/ funding), BU (w/out funding), LSE MSc (w/out funding), Oxford MPhil (w/out funding)
Rejects:
    Rejected: UCSD, Columbia, Berkeley, MIT, Princeton, Northwestern, Stanford, NYU, Chicago, Harvard, LSE MRes/PhD, UPenn, Oxford Dphil, Stokcholm School of Economics, Stockholm U Never got an answer : UPF, UCL
Waitlists:
    Waitlisted: Yale (not

miaataro 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad/Grad: BSc in Economics (minors in Mathematics, Statistics and Business Studies) and MSc in Economics (+ a still unfinished MSc in Statistics) from an unknown university in Finland.
Undergrad/Grad GPA: Overall 4.90, Econ 4.94, Math 4.83, Stat 4.94 (on a scale of 1-5)
GRE: 800Q, 390V, 4AWA
TOEFL: 111 (29R, 30L, 23S, 29W)
Math Courses: Unfortunately, they don't have illustrative names. I tooks a course sequence for a minor in math that dealt with the basic areas (linear algebra, differential calculus, integral calculus, real analysis, etc.) in more of an applied fashion.
Stat Courses: A lot. Mathematical Statistics 1 & 2 and Probability Calculus A & B + courses in time series analysis, survival models, mixed models, regression models, multivariate statistics, stochastic simulation, computational statistics, bayesian statistics, robust and nonparametric methods etc.
Econ Courses: A lot. Intermediate and advanced level courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics and econometrics + courses in labour economics, regional economics, microeconometrics, applied econometrics, game theory etc. I also took the econometrics core course in the Finnish Doctoral Program in Economics during the ongoing academic year.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 economics professors and a statistics professor from my university and a research director from an economics research institute. I guess they all know me quite well and believe in me, so their letters should have been good in that sense. None of them were well-known, however (but apparently they had some important connections after all).
Research Experience: BSc and MSc theses in economics, RA for one of my economics professors for 7 months, two last summers as a research trainee in an economics research institute, two last falls as an assistant researcher in an economics research institute, a researcher in an economics research institute from January onwards.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Econometrics and empirical/applied microeconomics
SOP: Nothing spectacular. Tried to emphasize my research experience and convince the reader that my educational background in economics, mathematic and statistics is strong enough, I guess.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: MIT, Tinbergen, LSE MSc EME (Research), Tilburg MPhil (2nd year), Uppsala (it was never official, though, as I withdraw my application)
Waitlists: -
Rejections: Princeton, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, U Michigan, UCL MSc
What would you have done differently? Absolutely nothing. I'm still amazed by my outcomes and really happy that I listened to my recommenders advice to try my luck with some of the top US schools. It definitely paid off...
Accepts:
    Acceptances: MIT, Tinbergen, LSE MSc EME (Research), Tilburg MPhil (2nd year), Uppsala (it was never official, though, as I withdraw my application)
  • Institution: LSE MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: I haven't applied for it yet Notification date: 28/Jan/2009 Notified through: LSE for You Comments: I am a living proof that someone from an unknown university and with relatively unknown letter of recommendation writers can get at least one excellent admit. This is unbelievable! An update to my funding situation: I didn't get any money at least from GSS.
  • Institution: Tilburg MPhil in Economics (2nd year) Decision: Accepted Funding: The decision is made later. Notification date: 18/FEB/2009 Notified through: Email Comments: I applied to the 1st year of the programme but was accepted to the 2nd year. I'm not sure whether that's actually a good thing for me or not .
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D Decision: Accepted Funding: They congratulated me for my external scholarship and promised to consider me for additional aid once they know what this scholarship covers. Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I've never been happier, honestly!
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute Economics MPhil (+ PhD) Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/9 Funding: Full scholarship Notified through: E-mail
Rejects:
    Rejections: Princeton, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, U Michigan, UCL MSc
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: E-mail Comments: This was expected.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/09 Notified through: Website Comments: -
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Website
  • Institution: UCL MSc Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: April 21 Notified through: Postal mail
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: -

chestnut.cc 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergraduate: BA Economics from a Top 10 college in my country (south east Asia) with math and stat minors
Undergraduate GPA: Currently (Final Year) 84%. We don't use the GPA system so I'm unsure of how much that translates to. It's similar to a UK percentage system though
Type of Graduate: NA
Graduate GPA: NA
GRE: 760V, 800Q, 5.5 AWA
TOEFL: 119
Math Courses: Three Year long Industrial Mathematics courses. Audited Real Analysis, Linear Algebra of the more rigorous sort.
Statistics Courses: Three Year long Applied Statistics courses.
Economics Courses: Economics Specials I II III IV. Basically intermediate micro, macro, international trade, history of economic thought, monetary, development economics.
Letters of Recommendation: Head of Department, Senior Lecturer, no one known, will serve my purposes.
Research Experience: NA
Teaching Experience: NA
Research Interests: Political Economy, Game Theory, Mechanism Design, Micro theory.
SOP: Short, Simple, just tried to signal course content, courses audited, interests.
Applied to: LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Toulouse, UPF BGSE, Tilburg, Erasmus Mundus
Acceptances: LSE EME(2 yr), Toulouse M1, UPF, Tilburg (MPhil), Erasmus Mundus MMEF1, Cambridge PG Dip (Econ)
Rejections: Oxford, UCL, Erasmus Mundus QEM
Attending: LSE
Accepts:
  • Institution: Toulouse School of Economics M1 Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Applied for Eiffel Scholarship Notification date: 12-23-2008 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Applied early December
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 02-03-2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Applied in early January, have to pay a reservation fee of Euro 500 by the 24th
  • Institution: Tilburg MPhil (1st Year) Decision: Accepted Funding: Euro 7812 fee remission, Applied for CenTER Scholarship Notification date: 02-17-2008 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Applied late January
  • Institution: Université Paris 1 Panthéon - Sorbonne Programme: Erasmus Mundus MMEF1 Decision: Accepted Funding: NA Notification Date: 17/03/2009 via email
  • Institution: LSE Programme: MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics (2 yr) Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 31/03/2009 Funding: None Comments: Conditional upon set GPA, and attending the September math courses.
  • Institution: University of Cambridge Programme: PG Diploma Economics Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 06/05/2009 via email Funding: NA
Rejects:
  • Institution: UCL MSc Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 01-27-2009 Notified through: Letter Comments: Applied in early December, expected
  • Institution: Oxford Programme: MPhil Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 31/03/2009 by mail
Waitlists:

confusedgrad 2009:
Institution: Duke University
Program: Economics, PhD
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 03/02
Notified through: E-mail
Funding: Will be informed by the department
Comments: Will decline soon.
_ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _
In: Minnesota (fellowship), UCLA (no 1st year funding), Boston College (TA), Duke($?), CEMFI (10K)
Out: Yale
Pending: Many many....
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke University Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Funding: Will be informed by the department Comments: Will decline soon. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota (fellowship), UCLA (no 1st year funding), Boston College (TA), Duke($?), CEMFI (10K) Out: Yale Pending: Many many....
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18K fellowship Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Duke, Maryland, Boston College, CEMFI Out: Yale, Northwestern Pending: A lot more
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute Economics, MPhil Decision: Accepted Funding: Full scholarship Notification date: 3/9/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Even though amsterdam is an appealing city, I have to decline the offer...
  • Institution: Goethe University, Frankfurt Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition+stipend Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Email Comments: I do not even know why I ever applied...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Website Comments: i knew it from the very beginning... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Boston College, Duke, CEMFI Out: Yale, Northwestern Pending: many more...
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comment: Totally expected... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Duke, Maryland, Boston College, CEMFI Out: Yale, Northwestern, Princeton Pending: A lot more
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Notification date:March 6 Notified through:E-Mail Comments: My dream school and my dream city has gone. It hurt for the first time... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Duke, Maryland, BC, CEMFI Out: Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Northwestern Pending: A lot more...
  • Institution: UPENN Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I am really not sad. The only thing to upset me is the fact that I could not receive even a single acceptance from the top of my list.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: March 11 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Now this one was really suprising for me...
  • Institution: London Business School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: March 11 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Two surprising rejections at one night... God, I was at least expecting an interview....
  • Institution: University College London Economics, MPhil/Phd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Postal service Comment : seems like i am not type of london...
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Website Comments: i never wanted this school indeed...
  • Institution: UCSD Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: E-mail Comments: already expected...
  • Institution: London School of Economics Economics, Mres/Phd (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/30 (?) Notified through: Website... Comments: No e-mail. Just checked the website. This is how far you can go with a pretty weak research proposal. No London for me...
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/15/2009 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: Finally good to know...
Waitlists:

blablabla 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A in Economics, top South American University
Undergrad GPA: 7.9/10.0
Type of Grad: M.A in Economics, same University
Grad GPA: 3.95 (converted). 8 A's and 1 B
GRE: 800Q 490V 3.5 AWA
TOEFL: 103
Math Courses: Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Math Economics I and II, Math Economics (grad level: sort of a real analysis course)
Econ Courses (undergrad level): A lot.
Econ Courses (grad level): Micro I and II, Macro I, Econometrics I and II, Microdevelopment I and II, Contract Theory
Other Courses: NA
Letters of Recommendation: 1 PhD UCLA and 1 PhD BU (probably very good ones), 1 PhD Yale and 1 PhD Chicago (probably not so good ones)
Research Experience: Nothing special. 1 year in a research foundation
Teaching Experience: 1 semester as TA for grad Econometrics I, 1 semester as TA for undergrad Econometrics II
Research Interests: Development Economics, Microeconometrics
SoP: Standard, I think.
Other: NA
RESULTS:
Acceptances: A few. Wisconsin-Madison (no $ 1yr), Maryland ($), Brown ($), LSE MRes/Track 1 (no $)
Waitlists: None
Rejections: A lot. MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Berkeley, NYU, Duke, Michigan, BU, UCL, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell
Pending: None
Attending: Brown
What would you have done differently?
1. Get higher grades as an undergrad.
2. Lack of math. I would have taken real analysis/measure theory
3. One of the probably-not-so-good letter of recommendation is my currently advisor. HUGE mistake.
Anyway, I am happy with my outcome! Good luck to all future applicants!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: A few. Wisconsin-Madison (no $ 1yr), Maryland ($), Brown ($), LSE MRes/Track 1 (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejections: A lot. MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Berkeley, NYU, Duke, Michigan, BU, UCL, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

3yellowroses 2011:
I'm an international applicant that has been lurking around. Time to disclose my results:
Accepted:
Institution: American University
Program: Phd Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: will be notified mid march.
Notification date: 9 March 2011
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
Waitlisted:
Institution: Tilburg University
Program: Research Master, Economics
Decision: Waitlisted. will hear from them in mid april
Funding: there's a chance to get a TA if admitted
Notification date: 14 March 2011
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
Institution: Cambridge University
Program: DPhil Economics
Decision: Waitlisted. will hear from them in mid april
Funding: haven't heard a word
Notification date: 10 Feb 2011
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
Rejections: NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, MIT, Brown, Maryland, Tinbergen, Oxford.
Haven't heard of: Umass, Cornell, WUSTL, Michigan State, Paris School of Economics, Bonn GSE, LSE (Econ & Phil Msc)
Accepts:
    Accepted: Institution: American University Program: Phd Economics Decision:
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE Economics MSc Decision: Admitted Funding: Partial tuition waiver (3000 euros off) Notification date: 04/11/11 Notified through: e-mail Comments:
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc Economics and Philosophy Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification date: April 12 Notified through: Emailed enquiry last week; received e-mail today Posted on GC: No Comments: don't know how hard it is to get to a PhD in Economics from here, don't know if I will attend then.
Rejects:
    Rejection Funding: will be notified mid march. Notification date: 9 March 2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: American University Phd Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: will be notified mid march. Notification date: 9 March 2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Waitlisted:
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection FUnding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments:
  • Institution: University College London Economics MSc Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 04/09/11 Notified through: snail mail Comments:
  • Institution: Washington University St. Louis (WUSTL) Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: April 13 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: finally
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 04/18/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Paris School of Economics Master APE M2 Decision: Rejected Notification date: 04/18/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Dream school!!!! damn!
Waitlists:
    Waitlisted: Institution: Tilburg University Program: Research Master, Economics Decision: Waitlisted. will hear from them in mid april Funding: there's a chance to get a TA if
  • Institution: Tilburg University Research Master, Economics Decision: Waitlisted. will hear from them in mid april Funding: there's a chance to get a TA if admitted Notification date: 14 March 2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Cambridge University DPhil Economics Decision: Waitlisted. will hear from them in mid april Funding: haven't heard a word Notification date: 10 Feb 2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Rejections: NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, MIT, Brown, Maryland, Tinbergen, Oxford. Haven't heard of: Umass, Cornell, WUSTL, Michigan State, Paris School of Economics, Bonn GSE, LSE (Econ & Phil Msc)

chatlunatique 2012:
Type of undergrad: BA in Econ, minor in Math, from large public school in the midwest (top 60 econ)
Undergrad GPA: 3.85/4.00
GRE: 170 Q /160 V /6.0 AWA
Math courses: Multivariate calc (A), Vector calc (A), Diff EQ (A), Linear Algebra (A), Real Analysis (A+; taken at Ivy)
Econ courses: Econometrics I-II (A,A), Honors thesis (A), Financial econ (A), Trade (A), Development (A), Seminar in Monetary econ (A), Seminar in trade/devo (A), Statistical analysis (A), Intermediate Macro/Micro (A,C+), Intro Macro/Micro (A,A+)
Other courses: Some African studies, some French, others from across the humanities/social science spectrum
Letters of recommendation: 2 from professors who I have managed field research projects for in the past 2 years (I am co-authoring a paper with one; both are junior but fairly well known in their sub-fields and earned their PhDs from top programs). 1 from undergrad professor who I took two classes with and excelled.
Research experience: UG thesis; 6 months RA at a regional Fed; 2 years RA managing research projects in an African country; co-authoring paper with one of my current bosses.
Teaching experience: 2 semesters TA for Intro to Micro
Research interest: Development, IO, Personnel, Micro
SOP: Talked about my research interests and how they developed, and explained my grade trajectory.
Other: Phi Beta Kappa, Summa cum laude, econ departmental honors
RESULTS:
Acceptances: NSF ($$$$), HBS Bus-Ec ($$$$), Stanford ($$$$), LSE ($$$), Northwestern ($$$), UCSD ($$$), UCLA ($$$), Duke ($$), Michigan ($$), Maryland ($$)
Rejections: Harvard econ, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford GSB, Chicago, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Columbia GSB, NYU, NYU Stern, Penn, Penn Wharton, UCL, Berkeley, Brown
Attending: HBS!
What would you have done differently?
Nothing? I’m thrilled with my acceptances, and managed to get into my top 2 choices, even with such high variance in outcomes. Above all else my results show that even with a shaky and unfocused first couple years of undergrad, it is possible to get into good programs. I did not take any math or serious econ courses until my fourth year of university, and ended up overcoming some poor early grades (including a C+ in intermediate micro) to finish strong in my last two years, and then go on to earn RA positions where I was able to work with top economists on research that fascinated me. Should be a fun few years ahead!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: NSF ($$$$), HBS Bus-Ec ($$$$), Stanford ($$$$), LSE ($$$), Northwestern ($$$), UCSD ($$$), UCLA ($$$), Duke ($$), Michigan ($$), Maryland ($$)
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Accepted Funding: Standard NSF package Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Pretty awesome.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard econ, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford GSB, Chicago, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Columbia GSB, NYU, NYU Stern, Penn, Penn Wharton, UCL, Berkeley, Brown
Waitlists:

ptf 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics (Minor: Mathematics) from an unknown SE Asian university (Top 2 in my unknown country)
Undergrad GPA: 3.83 (Econ: 3.76, Math: 3.81)
Type of Grad: MSc Economics from a Top 3 UK university
Grad GPA: Pass (Average: 58.5%)
GRE: 800Q/320V/3.5AW, 800Q/500V/3.0AW
Math Courses (Undergrad): Calculus 1-3 (A, B+, A), Logic and Set Theory (A), Abstract Algebra (B+), Linear Algebra (A), Ordinary Differential Equation (A), Partial Differential Equation (A), Mathematical Analysis (B+), Vector Analysis (A), Statistics 1-2 (A, B+)
Econ Courses (Undergrad): Principles of Microeconomics (A), Principles of Macroeconomics (A), Microeconomic Theory (A), Macroeconomic Theory (B+), Mathematical Economics 1-2 (B, A), Econometrics 1-2 (B, B+), Public Economics 1-2 (A, B+), Seminar in Public Economics (A), International Economics 1-2 (B+, A), Seminar in International Economics (A), Monetary Economics 1-2 (A, A), Industrial Organization (A), Agricultural Marketing (B+)
Econ Courses (Grad): Microeconomics (Merit), Macroeconomics (Merit), Econometrics (Pass), Public Economics (Pass)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from senior lecturer at my grad program (PhD Harvard) + 1 from assistant professor at my undergrad program (PhD ANU) + 1 from lecturer at my undergrad program (PhD Indiana)
Research Experience: 2 years of part-time RA in public economics and international economics during my undergrad
Teaching Experience: 2 semesters of TA in microeconomics during my undergrad
Research Interests: public finance, education, inequality, macroeconomics
SOP: Standard statement talking about my preparations, explaining bad grades in my master's degree, and describing my research interests with some (minor) modifications for each school (Not so specific in terms of research topics and hardly mentioned any particular names)
Other: (1) Participated in a summer internship at the central bank (2) Got funding for my graduate studies from the government scholarship (3) Had a second bachelors in political science and is currently doing a second masters in political theory
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Chicago
Waitlists: Pennsylvania, UC-Davis, Washington
Rejections: UC-Berkeley, Northwestern, Columbia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA, UCSD, Duke, CMU, Marryland, Rochester, UT-Austin, Oxford, UCL
Pending: UIUC
Attending: Chicago
What would you have done differently?
Well, I've always thought that my life would be much easier if I did my undergrad in the US. Anyway, I'm more than happy -- and very surprised -- with this bizarre result.
Some advices from my experience!
If you're from an unknown country, a master's degree from a well-known program does help a lot! Coming from a university outside the US, you'll get more chance if there've been some students from that university in a program to which you are apllying. Also, things get easier if you've got external funding. Another important thing is to note that all this process is extremely subjective; therefore, you should apply to quite a wide range of schools. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, pray hard... I think it helps!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Chicago
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC-Berkeley, Northwestern, Columbia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA, UCSD, Duke, CMU, Marryland, Rochester, UT-Austin, Oxford, UCL
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Pennsylvania, UC-Davis, Washington

marlow 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BCS Computer Science, Econ Minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.75
Type of Grad: MA Economics
Grad GPA: 3.41
GRE: Q:800 V:620 AWA:4.0
Math Courses: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Combinatorics.
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro (Phd), Macro (MA), Development, Monetary, Econometrics.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro, Macro, Econometrics, Public, International.
Letters of Recommendation: Two very strong (profs I RAd for). One good.
Research Experience: RA for two econ profs, Research Analyst at non-profit, RA for political science prof.
Teaching Experience: TA stats for econ.
Research Interests: Development, Political Economy, Public.
SOP: Interests, background, one custom paragraph for each school.
Concerns: Low Grad GPA, low Analytical GRE, out of school for three years.
RESULTS:
Accepted: UofToronto ($$), UCSC($)
Waitlists: Georgetown (withdrew), Bocconi
Rejected: Duke, Brown, Michigan, Northwestern, UBC, UCL, McGill
Attending: Toronto
What would you have done differently?
Worked harder during my MA. Taken Real Analysis. Maybe applied to a few more schools. -- Happy with Toronto though.
Accepts:
    Accepted: UofToronto ($$), UCSC($)
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruz Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 2/24/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: My first result, good
Rejects:
    Rejected: Duke, Brown, Michigan, Northwestern, UBC, UCL, McGill
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Georgetown (withdrew), Bocconi
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Yes if admitted Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Good! Please let them know if you don't plan on attending.


Waitlists:

canadamike 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics (Honours) from a top Canadian School (though not top in Economics)
Undergrad GPA: With 2 terms left, almost a 3.3 but if you look beyond first year it goes up to over 3.8
GRE: 790Q, 600V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus 1, Algebra 1, and I failed Linear Algebra in first year
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): All the core courses plus advanced Econometrics and international economics courses (trade, finance, institutions). 83% Average overall
Other Courses: Philosophy minor
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ (1 Assistant Prof, 1 Lecturer) and for Oxford I got a 2nd Assistant Prof
Research Interests: Trade theory, sports economics
SOP: Done and Done
Concerns: Poor first year (poor is an understatement); only a 780verall; worried my bad first year performance will outshine my grades since
Applying to: LSE, Oxford, UCL, Warwick, Nottingham, Bristol, York
RESULTS:
Acceptances: York (UK), Nottingham, Warwick
Rejections: LSE
Waiting: Bristol, UCL, Oxford
Accepts:
    Acceptances: York (UK), Nottingham, Warwick
Rejects:
    Rejections: LSE
Waitlists:
    Waiting: Bristol, UCL, Oxford

verio16 2009:
Type of Undergrad: BA (Honours) Economics from University of Delhi, India
Undergrad GPA: The university does not have a GPA system. My aggregate over 3 years is 72.4% (60 0s 1st division, the highest grade), roughly in the top 5 percentile(out of around 1000 students) in the university and ranked 3rd in college
GRE: Q800, V610, AWA 4.5
Math Courses:
Linear Algebra,multi variate Calculus, Constrained optimization(covered in a single course titled Mathematical methods for economics)
Reference books -Knut Sydsaeter and Peter J. Hammond, Mathematics for Economic Analysis and Alpha C. Chiang, Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics
Statistics
Distribution, probability, regression,hypothesis testing (covered under statistical methods for economics)
Reference books - P.H. Karmel and M. Polasek, Applied Statistics for Economists and M.R. Spiegel, Theory and Problems of Statistics
Also had an Econometrics paper
A.S. Goldberger (1998), Introductory Econometrics
Econ Courses: Principles of economics, Micro, Advanced Micro (game theory), macro, development theory, money, public economics, economy state and society, other courses specific to the Indian Economy
Other Courses: Formal Logic (Others of hardly any importance)
Letters of Recommendation: From my college professors, but i doubt any of them are internationally recognised (potentially a serious hurdle)
Research Experience: Worked as an intern with an NGO for 2 months, was RA for a paper that later got published. Worked for 6 months in the research wing of Watson Wyatt Worldwide(consultancy).
Teaching Experience: NIL
Research Interests: Macroeconomic modelling
Other: Good bunch of extracurricular s (I dont really know if it matters though)
Results
Acceptances: Warwick (Msc), Bocconi (Msc, $$), Tilburg (Msc, $?)
Pending: Tinbergen, Paris school of economics, UCL
What would you have done differently? should have taken the GRE earlier. Missed a lot of deadlines and sent in hurriedly assembled application.
Would have been more careful about being on good terms with my professors during my unergrad.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Warwick (Msc), Bocconi (Msc, $$), Tilburg (Msc, $?)
Rejects:
Waitlists:
    Pending: Tinbergen, Paris school of economics, UCL

teddypicker 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics from a somewhat-known non-US, non-EU university, (ranking 100+ in Times Higher Education)
Undergrad GPA: 3.89/4.0 (Class Rank:5)
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: none
GRE: Q800 V450 AWA4.5
Math Courses: Calculus I&II (A, which is the highest grade you can get), Mathematics for Economists (A), Introduction to Linear Algebra (A), Probability and Statistics I&II (A), Programming for Social Sciences (A)
Econ Courses: Macro-Micro Theory (A), , International Economics I&II (A), Econometrics I&II (A), Transition Economics (A), Theories of Growth and Development (A), Institutions and Development (A), History of Economic Thought (B+, A), Finance (A), Principles of Accounting (A-), Fiscal Economics (A), Monetary Economics (A-), World Economy in 20th Century (A), Analytical Writing for Economists (A), Game Theory I (A), Advanced Economic Theory (A), International Political Economy (A), Political Economy of Natural Resources (A), International Money (A-), Seminar in Macroeconomic Policy (A)
Other Courses: Selected Topics in Law (C+ basically why my GPA got lower), Social Transformation and Political History of my country (both A), History of Civilization (B-), Sociology and Social Psychology (both A)
Letters of Recommendation: All three are macro-economists. One got his PhD from Princeton (among top 6ited economists), one from Minnesota (considered to be the top economist of my country) and one from Maryland.
Research Experience: Currently conducting one with the professor who got his PhD from University of Minnesota. (A proposal on the Brazilian capital controls). I also wrote some papers for my previous professors; the most "credible" one is something I wrote for Sweder van Wijnbergen when I was an exchange student in the University of Amsterdam.
Teaching Experience: Worked as a TA for Introduction to Economics and Macroeconomic Theory classes over the summer.
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Growth and Development, Political Economy
SOP: Talked about my previous research, my extra-curricular activities and my interests. Took 3 pages. It might have been shorter.
Others: TOEFL ibt: 114 (26R, 30L, 28S, 30W)
Concerns: Math courses are not sufficient.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE (MSc Economics -Research-), BGSE (MSc Economics), Warwick (MSc Economics), CEMFI Madrid (MSc Economics and Finance), King's College London (MA International Political Economy), University of Bristol (MSc Economics, Management and Finance), University of Edinburgh (MSc Economics)
Waitlists: UCL (MSc Economics)
Rejections: Warwick (MA International Political Economy)
What Would You Have Done Differently?
I like the outcome of my results, as my only rejection is from a program I considered to be of low priority. Still, I would have
-taken more math courses during my undergraduate
-wouldn't be so scared of getting a rejection so maybe applied for some US Universities as well as Oxbridge
-would have pressured my professors for an RA position.
-would have studied more for the verbal section of GRE
Accepts:
    Acceptances: LSE (MSc Economics -Research-), BGSE (MSc Economics), Warwick (MSc Economics), CEMFI Madrid (MSc Economics and Finance), King's College London (MA International Political Economy), University of Bristol (MSc Economics, Management and Finance), University of Edinburgh (MSc Economics)
  • Institution: BGSE MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Partial Tuition Waiver (half) Notification date: 2/27/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: Will consider if rejected from LSE and Cambridge.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Warwick (MA International Political Economy)
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCL (MSc Economics)
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 16 accepted out of 28 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.68, average GREQ was 796.3.
No link to department posted statistics has been added, please let me know if these exist and I will add them.

Links:
Test Magic Econ Forums
econphd.econwiki.com
Last Updated: 14:58:27, Fri May 11, 2012